AccelByte Gaming Services vs CheddaBoards

AccelByte Gaming Services (AGS) is a managed backend platform for building and operating online games. Its packages cover player identity, progression and cloud saves, commerce, multiplayer, and live operations. Teams can use Extend to run custom backend logic, event-driven workflows, and service overrides. SDKs support Unreal Engine and Unity, with a TypeScript SDK for browser or service environments. Authentication options include Steam, Epic, PlayStation, Xbox, Google, Facebook, Azure Active Directory, Google Workspace, and OpenID Connect; web-login availability varies by provider and deployment. AGS offers Public Cloud and Private Cloud, both operated by AccelByte 24x7. Public Cloud Foundations is free while building, with usage fees as players arrive. Private Cloud plans start at $1,500 a month per environment, plus usage fees, and listed plans reach $3,500 a month per environment, plus usage fees. Usage is based on daily Peak Concurrent Users. AccelByte says it is ISO 27001 compliant and commissions regular third-party penetration tests. Its documentation says GDPR processes are not yet supported in AGS Public Cloud.

CheddaBoards is a free, open-source backend for games that need server-validated leaderboards, achievements, shared player profiles and authentication. Leaderboards can reset daily, weekly or monthly, with monthly and custom intervals available. Submission checks include per-game score caps, play-session duration, streak limits and server-side rules. The maker notes that determined users can reverse-engineer the public API or use bots that imitate realistic pacing, so additional protections are recommended for ranked or prize-based PvP. Players may begin anonymously and later link accounts through Google or Apple sign-in with a short code. Drop-in SDKs support Godot and Unity, while a REST API serves other engines that can make HTTP requests. Listed engine coverage also includes Unreal, GameMaker, Construct, native mobile, web and custom engines. Developers can delete scores or remove players from boards, with a deletion log, and record in-game events through API calls. The MIT-licensed backend and SDKs can be self-hosted on the Internet Computer. The Free plan costs nothing and includes three games per account, unlimited players and no per-player fees.